Victim to Speak 'From the Grave' in Peterson Case

Foxnews.com ^ | January 19, 2010 | AP

[ColdOne]

JOLIET, Ill. — Six years after she mysteriously drowned in a bathtub, Kathleen Savio is finally getting her day in court.

Savio essentially will testify from the grave Tuesday, with witnesses expected to tell a judge in Illinois how Savio discussed and wrote about her fears that her husband, former Bolingbrook police Sgt. Drew Peterson, would kill her.

The hearing is expected to provide the first detailed look at evidence prosecutors contend ties Peterson to Savio's death. It stems from a state law that allows a judge to admit hearsay evidence -- testimony from witnesses who recount what they heard from others -- in first-degree murder cases if prosecutors can prove a defendant killed a witness to prevent him or her from testifying.

The Illinois Legislature passed the law after authorities named Peterson a suspect in the 2007 disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy, then exhumed the body of Savio, his third wife, and reopened the investigation into her 2004 death. Though the bill's sponsors were careful never to link the law publicly to Peterson, it has been referred to as "Drew's Law," and his attorneys have long suggested it was passed to put Peterson behind bars.

During the hearing, which is expected to last three weeks, prosecutors will present

[RWGinger]

This is chilling but if true ( and I have no reason to not believe them) exposes even more what a vile man he is

OTOH I do not know how this could be brought into a court

[Seruzawa]

This is so disgusting. If not for the Blue Wall of Silence this animal would have been locked up years ago before she was murdered. The police officials and DA office people who refused to prosecute this wretched excuse for a human being should be on trial as accessories.

[ColdOne]

Just think of the nightmare those womens family went thru ...What can you do? .. He was a cop...? Just awful..

[ellery]

Yep—the cops never charged him with domestic violence, but they charged HER:

“Other possible witnesses who could be asked to testify about the stormy relationship between Drew Peterson and Savio are his former colleagues. Eighteen times in two years, police were called to the couple’s Bolingbrook home to respond to reports of trouble between the two, with Savio telling officers that her husband had beaten her and threatened to kill her. Peterson was never charged. Savio was charged with domestic battery and later was acquitted.”

Cops protecting their “own.”

[ellery]

blue wall of silence ping.

[MrFred]

I am all for Drew Peterson getting convicted, BUT the law they passed is unconstitutional. Everyone has the right to face their accuser, even scum like peterson.